ManchesterUrbex

A major project carried out by Salford Archaeology which began in June 2021,

this also incorporated an invite for residents of Rochdale to get involved as part of the community project. This is part of an ongoing project for the restoration of Rochdale TownHall, which has been awarded a grant from the National Lottery. The location of the dig is on the main car park, close to Packer Street, which was a notorious slum that rose up to the hill close to St Chads Church, moreover close to the site is a fountain that is sourced by a natural spring known as ‘Packer Spout’. So far the archaeologist have uncovered, bottles, other relics linked to businesses known to be in operation on Packer Street , also animal bones from butchers and heels from bootmakers and seashells, whelks and mussels possibly from the 1850’s onward . Packer Street was a main route in the medieval period... particularly for the wool trade the town is famous for. There are possible 17th-century remains underneath Town Hall Square, the basements and latrines were uncovered which date from the 18^th century. One of the archaeologist, based at the University of Salford: said ’we’re actually finding a lot of those things - pieces of boots, leather shoes, heels. They might be throwaways, but they could be linked to the industries here’, then added, there is evidence of Rochdale's pre-industrial history, which she believes may date as far back as the Anglo-Saxon period, could also be found. Rochdale could have hidden places of interest in the UK.